CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at S E L F Limited - 14 Park View
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, July 2022
S E L F Limited - 14 Park View is rated Good after inspectors found major improvements following an earlier Inadequate rating.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 14, 15, 20 and 22 June 2022. The inspector spoke with seven people living in the home, three relatives and nine staff. Records, medicines, staff files and management systems were also checked.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective and Well-led were rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safer medicines systems, improved care records, better risk management and effective infection control. People had more choice and control over their lives, including choices about meals, money and daily routines.
The previous inspection, published in January 2022, rated the home Inadequate and found breaches involving safety, safeguarding, dignity, staffing and management. Inspectors said the provider and new management team had made significant and radical changes.
This inspection only assessed Safe, Effective and Well-led. The ratings for Caring and Responsive were not assessed during this visit and were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection.
More choice and independence
People were no longer subject to the restrictive routines described at the previous inspection. They had more control over money, meals, smoking or vaping, medicines and daily life.
“We now have a say in everything and I know that isn't going to change.” from the report
Staffing improved
The provider reviewed staffing levels and ensured enough staff were on duty. People consistently received their allocated additional one-to-one support.
“People now consistently received their allocated additional 1:1.” from the report
Safer care systems
Risk assessments, medicines checks, incident reviews and infection control arrangements had improved. Inspectors found that people received medicines as prescribed.
“Medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Better records and oversight
Care records were described as clear, complete and up to date. Audits were being used to identify problems and prompt action.
“Staff now kept clear and detailed care records, which were accurate, complete, legible and up-to-date.” from the report
Improved partnership working
Health and social care professionals said communication with the home had improved. Their advice was sought and followed more promptly.
“They felt their advice was now sought in timely manner and followed.” from the report
Serious recent history
needs fixingThe home had been rated Inadequate only a few months earlier. The previous inspection found breaches involving safety, safeguarding, dignity, staffing and management, so families may wish to check that the improvements have lasted.
“The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 14 January 2022).” from the report
- 01How do you make sure there are always enough staff and that each person's allocated one-to-one support is provided?
- 02How do people living here continue to control their money, meals, medicines and daily routines?
- 03How do your audits identify problems, and can you give an example of an issue recently found and fixed?
- 04How do you check that staff continue to follow the improved safeguarding and risk-management procedures?
- 05How are feedback and concerns from relatives recorded, reviewed and acted on?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led only; Caring and Responsive were not assessed and their previous ratings carried over. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 July 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Rated Inadequate and placed in special measures; inspectors found serious problems with safety, staffing, people's rights and management.
This was an unannounced focused inspection after concerns about people's safety, staffing and management. Inspectors visited on four dates and spoke with five people, relatives, staff and social care professionals. They also reviewed care, medicines, staff and management records.
Inspectors found that risks were not always assessed or managed safely. There were concerns about possible financial abuse, too few staff, infection control, missing records, fire safety, and a lack of heating and hot water during the inspection. People were also subject to restrictions such as fixed smoking times, fixed mealtimes and staff holding cash cards.
Medicines were managed safely, and some staff were caring and tried to raise concerns. However, the overall rating fell from Good at the previous inspection to Inadequate. The home was placed in special measures, and a warning notice was issued for poor governance.
Compassionate care staff
Care staff showed concern for people's lives and repeatedly raised problems with management.
“Care staff were compassionate about ensuring people lived full lives.” from the report
Safe recruitment
The recruitment checks examined by inspectors were appropriate.
“Staff were recruited safely, and appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out.” from the report
Healthcare support
People were referred to healthcare professionals when needed and were supported to access local health services.
“People were supported to access the GP, and district nurses.” from the report
Financial safety
seriousInspectors found discrepancies in people's financial records. Older records could not be located, and the concerns were referred to the police and the local safeguarding team.
“People were not protected from the risk of financial abuse.” from the report
Restrictions on people's choices
seriousPeople faced restrictions including fixed times for smoking, vaping, meals and medicines, and staff holding people's cash cards. The provider took immediate action after inspectors raised this.
“Restrictive, controlling practices had been adopted within the service.” from the report
Staffing levels
seriousRotas did not always show who was on duty, expected staffing levels were not achieved, and some people did not receive allocated one-to-one support.
“The provider had failed to ensure enough staff were deployed to meet people's needs.” from the report
Infection control
seriousCOVID-19 visitor checks, protective equipment and testing records were not consistently in place or completed.
“The service did not have effective systems to prevent and control the spread of infections.” from the report
Building safety and maintenance
seriousPeople had no heating or hot water during the inspection, and maintenance and fire safety records were incomplete. Repairs to the heating system were completed afterwards.
“During our inspection people did not have access to heating and hot water in the building.” from the report
Weak management oversight
seriousAudits failed to identify major problems with risks, finances, records, infection control and management. Confidential records were not always secure, and some important documents were lost.
“Quality assurance within the service was not effective.” from the report
- 01What has changed to stop restrictions on smoking, vaping, mealtimes, medicines and access to cash cards?
- 02How are staffing levels now checked against people's needs, including one-to-one support?
- 03What safeguards are now in place for people's money, and have all missing financial records been resolved?
- 04How are risk assessments, incident records, fire safety checks and maintenance issues now monitored?
- 05What evidence can you show that infection control procedures and management audits are now being followed?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected, and previous ratings for those questions were used in the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 January 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of S E L F Limited - 14 Park View
5 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2022Goodcurrent ratingup from InadequateSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at S E L F Limited - 14 Park View →
- January 2022Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
Read what inspectors found at S E L F Limited - 14 Park View →
- May 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Sunderland
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £950 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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